"Thank you for supporting me until the end." Short track skater Kim Geon-woo passed away three months after retirement... at the age of 28.

*This content was translated by AI.

Kim Geon-woo, who competed on the international stage as a member of South Korea's men's short track national team, has passed away. He was 28 years old.

Kim Geon-woo's family stated via the deceased's personal SNS (social networking service) on the 23rd, "We sincerely apologize for not being able to contact everyone individually due to our shock at this sudden news and ask for your understanding." They added, "We would be grateful if you could offer warm condolences and prayers for his repose as he departs on his final journey."

The specific cause of death has not been disclosed. This is a heartbreaking report that came just three months after Kim announced his retirement from active duty in June. At the time of his retirement, Kim wrote on SNS, "There were moments during my athletic career when I was happier than anyone else, and conversely, there were times when I was very tired and exhausted. However, because all those times existed, I am able to be who I am today."

He continued, "Although I was an insufficient athlete, I sincerely thank you for supporting me and believing in me until the end," leaving a final message of gratitude to fans who had supported him for a long time.

Born in 1998, Kim Geon-woo stood out since his school days. Passing through the national team selection process in 2015 while attending the second year of Seo-hyeon High School under his former name, Kim Han-ul, he quickly made a name for himself as a promising prospect for South Korean men's short track.

He also proved his competitiveness on the adult stage. During the 2018-2019 season International Skating Union (ISU) World Cup, he rose to rank first in the men's 1500m and second in the overall standings, growing into a world-class athlete.

Although there were periods when he was away from the national team, he donned the Taegeuk mark again. In the 2024-2025 season national team selection trials, he finished third in the men's category with a total score of 73 points, securing priority entry rights for individual events at international competitions.

His performance after returning was also intense. Starting with the men's 1000m at the first event of the 2023-2024 season World Cup and continuing to win the men's 1500m at the second and third events, he secured gold medals in individual events across three consecutive competitions.

He also wore the Taegeuk mark at the last major tournament, the 2025 Harbin Winter Asian Games. He competed in the individual 1500m and 1000m events and contributed to South Korea's advancement to the finals in the mixed 2000m relay preliminaries. As South Korea claimed the top spot in the finals, Kim Geon-woo also won a gold medal.

His athletic career was not always smooth. He experienced multiple disciplinary actions and gaps from an early age, but he passed through national team competition again to return to the international stage and ultimately won an Asian Games gold medal. However, just shortly after announcing his retirement, this heartbreaking news was delivered.

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*This content was translated by AI.